Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell has taken a shot at outspoken president Jeff Kennett, saying it can be "hard work" having him in charge of the AFL club.

Kennett on Monday used the club's website to label the Hawks' performances in the past two rounds "disgraceful" and "appalling".

The former Victorian premier said Hawthorn were outplayed and out coached in Saturday's loss to Sydney, which leaves them in danger of falling out of the eight if they lose to Melbourne on Sunday.

Mitchell said it was obvious the Hawks were outplayed, but suggested Kennett was unqualified to critique the coaches.

"We did get outplayed, didn't we. We lost by 44 points so that one's pretty clear," Mitchell told reporters on Tuesday.

"The coaching is opinion. I'm not sure how much time Jeff's spent in the coaches' box, but I wouldn't think it's as much time as our coaches.

"No one puts more into their footy than (coach Alastair Clarkson) and his staff. They're here at the crack of dawn every morning and they don't leave until it's dark."

Mitchell said while the players did not always appreciate Kennett publicly venting his views on their performances, supporters probably did and the president was unlikely to change his ways.

"When you have Jeff at your footy club that comes with it," he said.

"He's great for our 54,500 members, but probably sometimes for the 48 players he's a bit of hard work.

"But that's part of his role. That's the way he views it to be the best president of our footy club and that's his right to do so."

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